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SLAD

Instructors

SLAD Dance Instructors and Staff

Kacy Voskuil
Kacy

 - Kacy Voskuil

Owner, Artistic Director

Owner and artistic director, Kacy Voskuil began her dance training at St. Louis Academy of Dance with founder Linda Green. She studied under Ms. Green and other instructo...[ MORE ]

Owner and artistic director, Kacy Voskuil began her dance training at St. Louis Academy of Dance with founder Linda Green. She studied under Ms. Green and other instructors such as Stanley Herbert, Jim Akman, Ludmilla Dukoudovsky, Tracy Speller, and Kathy Thiele. Miss Voskuil went on to complete SLAD's teaching apprentice program and has been instructing all levels and disciplines of dance at SLAD ever since.

"When I hear music, I see dance..." She is a choreographer and director of Pazazz Performers and has choreographed numerous musicals in the St. Louis area. A Pazazz alum herself, Miss Voskuil has an extensive performance career including Webster University Dance Ensemble and BFA concerts, High School and Community theater musicals, and hundreds of Pazazz performances.

As an accomplished Clayton High School graduate, Miss Voskuil completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance at Webster University under the direction of Gary Hubler and Beckah Voigt, with guest instructors including Jennifer Medina, Kristine Kardell, Nick Pupillo and Eddie Ocampo; studying ballet, tap, jazz and modern, plus improvisation, composition and dance pedagogy. In 2005, Miss Voskuil took the position of Associate Artistic Director of SLAD, becoming Artistic Director in 2006.
Emily Edwards
Emily

 - Emily Edwards

Co-Director

Emily, Assistant Director, began her dance career at St. Louis Academy of Dance with founder Linda Green at the age of 3. Emily is a proud Pazazz alum and went on to rece...[ MORE ]

Emily, Assistant Director, began her dance career at St. Louis Academy of Dance with founder Linda Green at the age of 3. Emily is a proud Pazazz alum and went on to receive her BFA in dance from Stephens College where she graduated Cum Laude. After graduation, Emily moved to New York and worked in many areas of the dance world while studying at Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway. Emily has studied with Jan Miller, Mary Rotella, Deborah Carr, Gail Gilbert, Katherine Kingsley and Liliana Morales. She has had extensive training in Ballet, Modern, Musical Theatre and Tap along with a wide variety of world dances. Emily is the current Assistant Director of Pazazz.
Ann Dryden
Ann

 - Ann Dryden

Administrate Assistant

Debbie Fischer
Debbie

 - Debbie Fischer

Administrative Assistant

Miss Debbie has over 40 years of administrative experience, plus a love of dance and music. Now that she is semi-retired she is able to live her dream of working in an ar...[ MORE ]

Miss Debbie has over 40 years of administrative experience, plus a love of dance and music. Now that she is semi-retired she is able to live her dream of working in an artistic, joyful atmosphere surrounded by children of all ages.
Abby Zaiz
Abby

 - Abby Zaiz

Instructor

Abby Zaiz began dancing at the age of four in Belleville, IL. She competed in dance competitions across the country from ages 6 to 14 and received countless awards for he...[ MORE ]

Abby Zaiz began dancing at the age of four in Belleville, IL. She competed in dance competitions across the country from ages 6 to 14 and received countless awards for her professionalism and performance quality. In high school Abby started training at Center of Creative Arts (COCA) in St. Louis, MO and was a part of both the jazz and modern, as well as the hip hop, pre-professional dance companies. Under the direction of Antonio and Kirven Douthit-Boyd and Anthony Redd Williams, she got the privilege to perform new and original works as well as restaged ones, originally created for the historical Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Abby has worked with choreographers from both the concert and commercial side of the dance industry and performed in many St. Louis dance events such as, National Dance Week, Climate Change Solutions Day, Ari’s Light Gala, and was even a finalist in the St. Louis Teen Talent Competition. Most recently, she was a professional member of the Ashleyliane Dance Company for 3 seasons. Abby prides herself on being a diverse artist and teacher who is confident and comfortable in many styles of dance: ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, contemporary, modern, musical theater, and hopes to pass on this adaptability and love for all styles on to her students. Abby is also a current instructor and board member at B. Elite Dance Academy and head of the tap program at Dance Productions Unlimited.
Anjuli Kroon
Anjuli

 - Anjuli Kroon

Instructor

Miss Anjuli grew up in Bloomington, Illinois, where she studied dance under Janet Hayslip-Streenz and Laurie Merriman. There, she danced and choreographed with Orchesis I...[ MORE ]

Miss Anjuli grew up in Bloomington, Illinois, where she studied dance under Janet Hayslip-Streenz and Laurie Merriman. There, she danced and choreographed with Orchesis Intercity Dance Company. After high school, Miss Anjuli traveled and studied dance all over the country, including Raleigh, Anchorage, and Seattle. She went on to graduate Summa Cum Laude with her BFA in dance from Arizona State University. She has studied many dance techniques including modern, Graham, contemporary, ballet, tap, jazz, and improvisation. She performed with H.lab in Phoenix Arizona, under the direction of Harper Piver. She also founded C3 Dance, a Phoenix based organization focused on community dance. After Miss Anjuli moved to St Louis, she choreographed and performed with Leverage Dance Theater. She began teaching at SLAD in 2014.
Carly Vanderheyden
Carly

 - Carly Vanderheyden

Instructor

Originally from Green Bay, Wisconsin, Carly attended the University of Iowa where she graduated with honors and earned a BFA in Dance, BA in Health and Human Physiology, ...[ MORE ]

Originally from Green Bay, Wisconsin, Carly attended the University of Iowa where she graduated with honors and earned a BFA in Dance, BA in Health and Human Physiology, and Certificate in Arts Entrepreneurship. While pursuing her BFA, Carly performed works by Autumn Eckman, Marc Macaranas, Armando Duarte, Melinda Jean Myers, Eloy Barragàn, Jesse Factor, and Martha Graham. Carly has trained in intensives at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, DanceWorks Chicago, the Martha Graham School, American Dance Festival, and the Kirov Academy of Ballet. Carly is a certified teacher with the American Ballet Theatre National Training Curriculum for pre-primary through level five, as well as a 200-hour Registered Yoga Teacher with the Yoga Alliance. Beyond dance, Carly is also a Certified Health Education Specialist through the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, and a freelance photographer. Carly was a trainee with The Big Muddy Dance Company last season, and she is excited to return for the 2018-19 season as an apprentice, while also serving as the company's Communications Coordinator.
Cheryl Bigg
Cheryl

 - Cheryl Bigg

Instructor

Cheryl Bigg was born in St. Louis Missouri and started dancing at the age of three. She trained under Lisa Partain Dallas former owner of Dance Productions Unlimited. She...[ MORE ]

Cheryl Bigg was born in St. Louis Missouri and started dancing at the age of three. She trained under Lisa Partain Dallas former owner of Dance Productions Unlimited. She was a member of DPU‘s company team and competed with 1st Place Achievements in both solo and group performances. Also choreographed many award winning group, trio, duets and solo numbers. Performed on Jerry Lewis Telethon, VP Fair St Louis and Chuck Normans Fundraising Events. She started teaching at DPU at the age of 14. Her teaching skills include tap, jazz, ballet and tumbling for a wide variety of ages and levels. She currently teaches at Saint Louis Academy of Dance and Excel performing arts. In addition to her dance training, Cheryl is also a registered nurse with a background in orthopedics and body alignment safety. When Cheryl is not dancing or nursing, she loves spending time with her husband, three dogs and backyard chickens.
Dustin Crumbaugh
Dustin

 - Dustin Crumbaugh

Instructor

DUSTIN CRUMBAUGH, of Houston, Tx, initially trained with Rose Thayer of Thayer Dance Academy in Orange until he joined Houston Metropolitan Dance Center’s Houston Met To...[ MORE ]

DUSTIN CRUMBAUGH, of Houston, Tx, initially trained with Rose Thayer of Thayer Dance Academy in Orange until he joined Houston Metropolitan Dance Center’s Houston Met Too. He spent two years as a dance major at Point Park University where he worked with choreographers such as Alan Hineline, Margo Sappington, and Robert Battle. While in school he also performed in the award-winning tap show “The Rhythm Chefs” at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, VA, and with Neil Goldberg’s Cirque. He then completed his traineeship with Ballet Austin, in which the performed works by Stephen Mills, Septime Weber, and Dwight Rhoden. Dustin joined Houston Metropolitan Dance Company in 2005, trained at Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet School and in 2007 joined Luna Negra Dance Theater and continued his training with Hubbard Street Dance Center. Dustin spent ten years as a founding member of The Big Muddy Dance Company and served as their director of Educational Programs from September of 2011 to May of 2021.
Garrick Johnson, II
Garrick

 - Garrick Johnson, II

Instructor

Garrick Johnson, II (G2) is a native of Saint Louis, MO, and has danced since the age of 12 years old. He pursued hip-hop dance during his tenure with the Anointed Feet ...[ MORE ]

Garrick Johnson, II (G2) is a native of Saint Louis, MO, and has danced since the age of 12 years old. He pursued hip-hop dance during his tenure with the Anointed Feet Christian Dance Academy of the Arts and has never stopped. While balancing his career as an engineer, he founded a youth dance-mentoring program called the Multicultural Family Center Hip Hop Kidz in Dubuque, IA, became a member of Dreaming Allegiance Dance Crew, taught dance as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Dubuque, choreographed the Madagascar Jr stage play at Dubuque’s Grand Opera House, and opened up for various artists and dance companies — including, but not limited to, Chicago Dance Crash and Las Vegas’s Michael Jackson LIVE. Garrick returned to Saint Louis at the end of 2018 and has continued to share his passion for the fine and performing arts. He teaches in IL and MO as a competition dance coach and instructor and works with up-and-coming artists from both regions.
Hanna Pierce
Hanna

 - Hanna Pierce

Instructor

Hanna Pierce started her dance training at Midland Festival Ballet in Midland, Texas at the age of three. She joined the civic company and performed in many ballets such ...[ MORE ]

Hanna Pierce started her dance training at Midland Festival Ballet in Midland, Texas at the age of three. She joined the civic company and performed in many ballets such as Nutcracker, Alice in Wonderland, Graduation Ball, and A Midsummer Nights Dream. She traveled to many well known summer intensives on scholarship such as Milwaukee Ballet, Orlando Ballet, Alonzo King LINES Ballet, Burklyn Ballet Theatre, Glenda Brown Choreography Project, and Oklahoma City Ballet. After high school she attended Alonzo King LINES training program in San Francisco. She was a company member with CommonThread Contemporary Ballet in St. Louis under the director Jennifer Medina. Hanna now does project dance work and also competes in ballroom in the International Latin DIvision with Convergence Dance and Body. Hanna has worked with many well known choreographers such as Thom Clower, Maurya Kerr, LeeWei Chao, VimVigor, Sidra Bell, Kyle Abraham Company, Katia Garza, Valorie Robin, New Dialect and many others.
Kari James
Kari

 - Kari James

Kari James brings a diversity of experience as a dancer, choreographer and administrator. She is a lifetime dancer and performer with a long established career in St. Lo...[ MORE ]

Kari James brings a diversity of experience as a dancer, choreographer and administrator. She is a lifetime dancer and performer with a long established career in St. Louis which includes owner of Steps Unlimited Dance Studio, Instructor at Webster University, Instructor/Choreographer at Center of Creative Arts (COCA) and Director of Kari James Dance Network which concentrates on tap and jazz for the adult student and performer. In addition, she is a judge with International Dance Challenge and judges dance competitions in various cities across the U.S. She continues her studies with top choreographers and holds dear her friendship to long time friend and mentor, Frank Hatchett of the Broadway Dance Center. Her tap experience includes time spent with Lane Alexander, Dianne Walker and Germaine Goodson. Performing credits include “Sugar Babies” in California and “Big Break” hosted by Natalie Cole.
Katherine Kennedy
Katherine

 - Katherine Kennedy

Instructor

Katherine Kennedy is a St. Louis based professional dancer, teacher, and choreographer in her third season with the Modern American Dance Company (MADCO). Katherine grew ...[ MORE ]

Katherine Kennedy is a St. Louis based professional dancer, teacher, and choreographer in her third season with the Modern American Dance Company (MADCO). Katherine grew up in Madison, Wisconsin, extensively studying ballet, jazz, tap, modern, and contemporary. She graduated summa cum laude with a BFA in dance and a BBA in management from Western Michigan University in the spring of 2019. Some of her career highlights include performing original choreography by Joshua Manculich, Monique Haley, Christian Denice, and Carl Flink and in restagings of works choreographed by Roni Koresh, Aszure Barton, and Lindsey Thomas. Katherine is passionate about sharing dance with her community and is thrilled to be teaching SLAD students of all ages!
Robert Poe
Robert

 - Robert Poe

Instructor

Robert Poe ( Aiken, SC) began dancing with Carl Crosby at Crosby's School of Dance. He graduated high school from the S.C. Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities w...[ MORE ]

Robert Poe ( Aiken, SC) began dancing with Carl Crosby at Crosby's School of Dance. He graduated high school from the S.C. Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities with honors. For the past 15 years, Robert has performed professionally with the Columbia City Ballet, Cedar Lake II, the Nashville Ballet, and the Nashville Opera, the Missouri Ballet Theatre, and for 2 years in a row, Opera Theater of St. Louis where he recently performed in the critically acclaimed, world premier of "Fire Shut Up In My Bones". He sits on the Senior Outreach Committee for Big Muddy's Senior Embrace program as well. Robert's passion for dance education has led him to teach in studios all over South Carolina, North Carolina, Nashville, Illinois and Missouri while his choreography has been seen on the Nashville Ballet as well as their training company (NB II), Missouri Ballet Theatre, The Big Muddy Dance Company, and Texture Contemporary Ballet. Most recently, Robert has become Co-Director of Ballet 314, a professional ballet company based here in St. Louis with the desire to showcase local talent within this community.
Sean Sessions
Sean

 - Sean Sessions

Instructor

Sean Sessions is from Baltimore, Maryland, where he began his dance training under Dona Pidel. He is currently a dancer with Saint Louis Ballet, he has danced in product...[ MORE ]

Sean Sessions is from Baltimore, Maryland, where he began his dance training under Dona Pidel. He is currently a dancer with Saint Louis Ballet, he has danced in productions with Suzanne Farrell Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet and Pittsburgh Ballet Theater. Sean has trained with Pittsburgh Ballet Theater and at Butler University. He has had the privilege of studying internationally at The Polish National Ballet School and at Jacob’s Pillow Ballet Program. Sean is excited and grateful to be passing along his love a ballet to the students of Saint Louis Academy of Dance.